Inspirational cyclist and author Ryan Correy passes away

A beloved and accomplished Canmore cyclist, Ryan Correy, died last week after a nine-month battle with cancer.

His wife Sarah shared in a social media post that journey had become a legacy.

“This morning, at 9:15 a.m., surrounded and embraced by family, our beloved Ryan passed away peacefully at our home,” she wrote on Friday.

She added a celebration of life, “befitting of the true champion that he was,” will be held, with details to follow as they become available.

Correy was an inspiration to thousands through his athleticism, charity work, writing, and later in sharing his battle with cancer.

The local adventurer first published his book “A Purpose Ridden” in 2015. Following a colon cancer diagnosis last summer, he updated and re-released the book with the addition of an afterword.

“It’s short and sweet but it is pretty heavy and dense,” said Rocky Mountain Books publisher Don Gorman about the afterword. In March, Correy could not do an interview due to his health.

The addition to “A Purpose Ridden” updated readers on what had been happening in the life of Correy since 2015, including marriage, new races, and the diagnosis.

In June of last year, Correy competed in the 24 Hours of Adrenaline cycling race at the Canmore Nordic Centre. Over the course of one day 36 minutes 15 seconds, Correy managed to lap the hill-laden, 17-kilometre track an incredible 17 times to take the victory in the 24-hour solo category.

Gorman said the tone of the afterword is “heartbreaking but also beautifully optimistic.”

Thousands of people have been following Correy’s journey, and hundreds have taken to social media to express their condolences.